Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed that attacking reinforcements are now Tottenham’s primary focus in the transfer window, with the club already having moved to shore up their defensive options earlier this summer.
Speaking to Standard Sport, and reported by journalist Alasdair Gold, De Zerbi was direct about where the squad needs reinforcing next. He said the target now is to complete the attacking positions, that Spurs want the first level because they already have important players, but that to start a new project they need another couple of important players.
That is about as candid as a manager gets in a transfer window, and the context makes the urgency plain. Dominic Solanke, James Maddison, and Mohammed Kudus all spent significant spells injured last season. Dejan Kulusevski sustained a serious knee injury in May 2025. Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons are both out with ACL injuries. When De Zerbi says he needs more firepower, he means it – and he has the walking wounded list to prove it.
Savinho the Leading Name, Vuskovic Staying Put
Manchester City winger Savinho is the most concrete attacking target reported, with Standard Sport describing negotiations as relatively straightforward – City are open to selling for the right price, and the 22-year-old wants more first-team minutes. Savinho is valued at around £60million, though it remains unclear whether incoming City manager Enzo Maresca considers him part of his plans.
Spurs have also been linked with further winger options as De Zerbi looks to build depth in wide areas rather than rely on a squad that spent half of last season in the treatment room. Goalkeeper James Trafford, unwilling to play understudy at City following Gianluigi Donnarumma’s arrival, is also a target should Guglielmo Vicario leave.
On the outgoings side, Randal Kolo Muani will not be returning after an ineffectual loan from PSG, which at least opens a slot. Cristian Romero’s future remains unresolved until after the World Cup, and Joao Palhinha – whose goal secured survival on the final day – could yet leave, with Sporting interested. De Zerbi wants to keep him, but that kind of thing rarely ends the conversation.
Vuskovic Not for Sale
One piece of business Spurs appear settled on: Luka Vuskovic is not moving. Brighton attempted to use the Croatian teenager as a makeweight in a deal for Jan Paul van Hecke, and Spurs rejected it. Clubs including Bayern Munich and Barcelona have registered interest in Vuskovic following a strong loan season at Hamburg, but the club’s approach to this window suggests they view him as part of the future, not a bargaining chip. With defenders already brought in and attacking targets now the focus, De Zerbi has a reasonably clear picture of what he needs. Whether he gets it is a different matter entirely.
